Free Hilton Head talk to focus on growing threat of invasive yellow-legged hornets

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, Sc. (WTOC) - A free educational talk on the growing threat of invasive yellow-legged hornets is coming to Hilton Head Island.

The Greenery will host “Invasive Species: The Yellow-Legged Hornet” at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at The Greenery Garden Center, 960 William Hilton Parkway.

Allison Lewis, an invasive hornet survey specialist with Clemson University’s Department of Plant Industry, will lead the discussion alongside members of her team and Greenery staff.

The yellow-legged hornet, also known as the Asian hornet, was first detected in the United States in Savannah in 2023. Since then, the species has spread throughout the Lowcountry, with Beaufort County becoming the center of South Carolina’s population in 2024.

The hornets are predators of honeybees and other pollinators, raising concerns among beekeepers and agricultural officials.

According to the Greenery, Clemson University documented 16 yellow-legged hornet nests in South Carolina in 2024. That number has grown to more than 500 in 2026, highlighting the rapid spread of the invasive species.

The upcoming talk will focus on identification, reporting sightings and resources available to the public.

Community members are encouraged to report suspected hornets or nests. Reports should include the exact location and date of the sighting. Photos can also be submitted, but residents are advised to photograph hornets and nests only from a safe distance to avoid potential stings.

“The good news is that community members reporting what they see is one of the most useful tools we have, and that’s exactly what this talk will cover,” said Erin Carpenter, a master gardener at The Greenery.

The event is free and open to the public.

EVENT DETAILS

• What: Invasive Species: The Yellow-Legged Hornet — Education Talk
• Who: Allison Lewis, Clemson University Department of Plant Industry
• When: Saturday, Oct. 24, at 10 a.m.
• Where: The Greenery Garden Center, 960 William Hilton Parkway, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina